1 00:00:30,21 --> 00:00:34,29 Whole lot of them this is State Senator Harriet Chandler of the first Wister 2 00:00:34,30 --> 00:00:39,74 district and this is Beacon Hill chat the show that brings interesting people to 3 00:00:39,75 --> 00:00:44,65 talk about some of the interesting things they're doing and today we are privileged 4 00:00:44,66 --> 00:00:51,27 to have with us my friend and my my colleague Representative Jim O'Day of the 5 00:00:51,28 --> 00:00:54,30 fourteenth Wister district and Jim it is such 6 00:00:54,31 --> 00:00:59,56 a pleasure to have you here you are you're all over it you're doing so many things 7 00:00:59,57 --> 00:01:02,49 that were were lucky to to sit you down for 8 00:01:02,50 --> 00:01:06,94 a little bit and and catch up with you is really what we're going to do during the 9 00:01:06,95 --> 00:01:12,68 show you're from the West or will fourteenth Wester Where is the fourteenth Wester 10 00:01:12,69 --> 00:01:17,86 district for those of you who don't know well as you say it encompasses part of was 11 00:01:17,87 --> 00:01:21,29 the northern part of the city it was there and it also includes the town of West 12 00:01:21,30 --> 00:01:28,29 Boylston So it's words so it would still all of wood to. Pricing to five 13 00:01:28,30 --> 00:01:35,26 avoid one. Would three precincts one three and five and 14 00:01:35,27 --> 00:01:39,78 then the two precincts in the town of West Boylston and that's it that's that's you 15 00:01:39,79 --> 00:01:46,75 represent the northern part. Of this area right and this is your 16 00:01:47,47 --> 00:01:52,06 what your well I mean I guess I'm starting my seventh year I've had three full 17 00:01:52,07 --> 00:01:56,69 terms I came in on the special election as you remember on May of two thousand and 18 00:01:56,70 --> 00:02:03,56 seven and so I'm starting my seventh year. And we have seen you grow and do 19 00:02:03,79 --> 00:02:08,56 kind of wonderful things Jim's got a very interesting background because he was 20 00:02:08,57 --> 00:02:12,27 a social worker and there's something very sensitive 21 00:02:12,28 --> 00:02:14,65 a compassion about anybody who's been 22 00:02:14,66 --> 00:02:19,51 a social worker in general is certainly no exception to that rule when 23 00:02:19,52 --> 00:02:23,58 a social worker for how many years twenty four for the bomb 24 00:02:23,59 --> 00:02:27,08 a social services and that's really very kind of you to say this and that and I 25 00:02:27,09 --> 00:02:31,37 appreciate those words true I mean you've been Reba has talked about what 26 00:02:31,38 --> 00:02:36,17 a wonderful social worker you were now kind you were and how understanding and we 27 00:02:36,18 --> 00:02:40,74 see that we got the benefit of bad the legislation you know I'm so so strongly 28 00:02:40,75 --> 00:02:45,53 fortunate to think that my social worker had the opportunity to meet my wife this 29 00:02:45,54 --> 00:02:46,02 wasn't 30 00:02:46,03 --> 00:02:51,88 a bad thing and secondly to have the opportunity to work with so many families here 31 00:02:51,89 --> 00:02:56,04 and in the in the in the community in the area was there in some of the towns 32 00:02:56,05 --> 00:03:01,09 around that was there and and then having the great fortune of being elected and 33 00:03:01,10 --> 00:03:04,64 really trying to take you know the work that you would I was doing as 34 00:03:04,65 --> 00:03:06,83 a social work and try to put them into 35 00:03:06,84 --> 00:03:11,65 a larger largest scale and that's been the really exciting part and challenging 36 00:03:11,66 --> 00:03:12,52 part since becoming 37 00:03:12,53 --> 00:03:18,03 a state legislator and now you're serving as chair of the older adult. 38 00:03:20,64 --> 00:03:26,80 Other Affairs Committee and you say you co-chair that with Senator Pat Jaylen and 39 00:03:27,20 --> 00:03:33,26 you really handle everything that seniors have an interest in yeah I mean obviously 40 00:03:33,27 --> 00:03:38,24 before I was had the good fortune of being appointed to the position by the speaker 41 00:03:39,08 --> 00:03:40,00 you know not unlike 42 00:03:40,04 --> 00:03:44,05 a number of our colleagues here you have the standings and ideas of some of the 43 00:03:44,06 --> 00:03:49,81 issues that scene is faced right but now having been appointed as the co-chair of 44 00:03:49,82 --> 00:03:55,40 the committee it's almost overwhelming because there are so many issues you know 45 00:03:55,44 --> 00:04:01,74 employment issues transportation issues Medicaid issues domestic violence. Just 46 00:04:02,54 --> 00:04:09,37 as one of the good guys by domestic violence coalition and you 47 00:04:09,38 --> 00:04:15,50 mentioned about domestic violence for older adults I don't think people realize 48 00:04:15,51 --> 00:04:18,57 that that that is a problem it's 49 00:04:18,58 --> 00:04:24,39 a problem you know mental health issues right actually we're going to be joining 50 00:04:24,40 --> 00:04:29,70 with Representative Liz Mallya who's the one year the co-chair of the Committee on 51 00:04:29,71 --> 00:04:33,95 Substance Abuse and Mental Health and we're going to be doing an oversight hearing 52 00:04:34,25 --> 00:04:39,51 at the State House relative to the issues facing seniors around substance abuse 53 00:04:39,66 --> 00:04:43,15 that's a wonderful idea of health because I think as 54 00:04:43,16 --> 00:04:50,01 a society community is age. The problems that we see with you know 55 00:04:50,02 --> 00:04:53,97 thirty year olds forty year olds they don't necessarily go away as 56 00:04:53,98 --> 00:05:00,37 a population ages so it's becoming the older our communities become those problems 57 00:05:00,38 --> 00:05:05,91 associate themselves to the seniors as well they grow rebellious after Russian and 58 00:05:05,92 --> 00:05:07,49 people are living longer and L. 59 00:05:07,87 --> 00:05:14,74 So. What's what what's the best thing that you have seen happen in the you've been 60 00:05:14,78 --> 00:05:15,53 in the chair for 61 00:05:15,54 --> 00:05:21,41 a year what's what's what excites you them. About this chairmanship Well I think 62 00:05:21,42 --> 00:05:25,69 what you know right now because that's all I can talk about right so right now 63 00:05:25,73 --> 00:05:29,08 we've been able to as of April we were able to get 64 00:05:29,09 --> 00:05:35,48 a pretty significant increase in the budget for services for seniors in their homes 65 00:05:35,53 --> 00:05:41,73 right and that is very important it's huge really important. People 66 00:05:41,98 --> 00:05:46,35 seniors they want to remain in their homes as long as it's human leave possible 67 00:05:46,36 --> 00:05:51,72 right and I think there is right I think that's correct we were able to put some 68 00:05:51,73 --> 00:05:56,59 additional monies into what it's called the cops account Enhanced Community Options 69 00:05:56,79 --> 00:06:02,18 Programs So those are programs that even those that we might be eligible for 70 00:06:02,19 --> 00:06:07,35 Medicaid in actually be eligible for for hospitalization or to go into 71 00:06:07,36 --> 00:06:10,87 a nursing I don't want to go I don't want to do that so we have to make certain 72 00:06:10,88 --> 00:06:17,23 that we can provide services so that those seniors can remain in home and in in 73 00:06:17,24 --> 00:06:21,61 order to do that we have to have the ability to pay for that so people watching 74 00:06:21,62 --> 00:06:26,77 this representative who want to know how that's going to affect them maybe they're 75 00:06:26,78 --> 00:06:32,46 a senior watching this and they'd like to remain in their home too but they just 76 00:06:32,64 --> 00:06:36,87 are struggling to be able to stay in their home right now so it's 77 00:06:36,88 --> 00:06:39,04 a little loud but a sabse radio Ury 78 00:06:39,05 --> 00:06:45,97 a service programs you know like the you know the senior centers and and you 79 00:06:45,98 --> 00:06:46,26 know 80 00:06:46,27 --> 00:06:51,72 a good friend to Swan right and all the services that his agency provides for us to 81 00:06:51,73 --> 00:06:56,22 continue to do assessments of families in talk with seniors and talk with their 82 00:06:56,23 --> 00:07:01,00 families and really try to figure out what services are necessary so that we can 83 00:07:01,31 --> 00:07:05,78 allow them to stay at home in through that process we look and find out what 84 00:07:05,79 --> 00:07:11,79 agencies are the most appropriate for them for them right and that that will make 85 00:07:11,80 --> 00:07:16,30 a difference for them they will be able to I guess it's too much to say that you 86 00:07:16,31 --> 00:07:21,09 can promise everyone who wants to stay at home. They will be able to because it 87 00:07:21,10 --> 00:07:26,41 really depends on whether how many activities of daily living Well it depends on 88 00:07:26,42 --> 00:07:32,25 that it depends really on how much you know what is the level of care that they 89 00:07:32,26 --> 00:07:38,04 need you know a bill that was just released. Probably 90 00:07:38,05 --> 00:07:44,86 a month or so ago from my committee and is now in. Financial. Ways and I 91 00:07:45,10 --> 00:07:51,77 know you're all human health if I had your financing yes. Where we're looking at 92 00:07:51,81 --> 00:07:56,51 you know ways of continuing to provide those kinds of services at 93 00:07:56,52 --> 00:08:02,63 a higher level of care you know asking asap to be able to hopefully provide twenty 94 00:08:02,64 --> 00:08:04,25 four hours seven days 95 00:08:04,26 --> 00:08:11,25 a week. Also broadening the amount of services that TCAS can 96 00:08:11,26 --> 00:08:17,42 provide and some of the issues that's not clear is this I'm sorry in some of the 97 00:08:17,81 --> 00:08:23,52 issues currently you know it's more of a medical need for my P.C.A. 98 00:08:23,53 --> 00:08:30,43 To come into your home but will we may have. The MENTIRA issues that I had to the 99 00:08:30,44 --> 00:08:36,47 degree that you need to be hospitalized cognitive cognitive challenges that as it 100 00:08:36,48 --> 00:08:37,38 stands now 101 00:08:37,54 --> 00:08:42,73 a personal care attendant they don't have the ability to come into your home for 102 00:08:42,74 --> 00:08:46,17 that and so if they were able to come in it would be something where we might need 103 00:08:46,18 --> 00:08:50,91 to just remind somebody to make sure that you eat right remind the senior May she 104 00:08:50,92 --> 00:08:54,77 take the medications remind the senior to make sure you know when you finish 105 00:08:54,93 --> 00:09:00,19 cooking that you turn your stove off so without that ability those folks might have 106 00:09:00,20 --> 00:09:03,96 to come into a much more costly residential setting right into 107 00:09:03,97 --> 00:09:08,29 a nursing home but with those services we allow them to be able to stay at home 108 00:09:08,48 --> 00:09:12,50 having the personal care attend the chairmen and make those kinds of cueing 109 00:09:12,82 --> 00:09:17,46 reminders to them that allows them then to say it's in the home so I see that as 110 00:09:17,99 --> 00:09:22,07 a piece alleges. That I think would be usually beneficial and you think it has 111 00:09:22,08 --> 00:09:25,35 a good chance of getting on the floor well I'm certainly hopeful of that right I'm 112 00:09:25,36 --> 00:09:27,34 going to be making sure I reach out to 113 00:09:27,35 --> 00:09:33,20 a chairman Walsh and really tell him that we were happy to release it from our 114 00:09:33,21 --> 00:09:38,64 committee and that the important testimony from all the folks that came to the 115 00:09:38,65 --> 00:09:39,59 state also we had 116 00:09:39,60 --> 00:09:44,60 a committee was very positive I mean it seems that people do want to stay in their 117 00:09:44,61 --> 00:09:49,79 own homes as long as they possibly can and it's so much more expensive for them to 118 00:09:49,80 --> 00:09:50,25 go into 119 00:09:50,26 --> 00:09:54,52 a nursing home so much more so much as you know I mean that's an issue there let's 120 00:09:54,53 --> 00:10:01,42 remember she was doing it for you know in rightly so. And again they want to stay 121 00:10:01,43 --> 00:10:07,04 at home my community is is where your heart is right homo your heart is right and 122 00:10:07,05 --> 00:10:12,06 as you mentioned earlier and some cases that just can't be accommodated but when it 123 00:10:12,07 --> 00:10:15,34 can it makes the most since we have to go for 124 00:10:15,35 --> 00:10:20,21 a strike that's been one of the governor's call since he became right elected and I 125 00:10:20,22 --> 00:10:24,64 agree with that but also we have to make sure that whatever it is that we have 126 00:10:24,65 --> 00:10:29,25 providing in the community that it's that it's right it's appropriate it's cost 127 00:10:29,26 --> 00:10:32,07 effective and safe and it's safe I mean that it's 128 00:10:32,08 --> 00:10:36,38 a clients are getting the care that they rightfully richly deserve you know we 129 00:10:36,39 --> 00:10:41,99 don't have assisted living for people who don't have 130 00:10:42,00 --> 00:10:43,73 a lot of money and that's 131 00:10:43,74 --> 00:10:49,55 a real problem because assisted living gives people who can afford it the 132 00:10:49,56 --> 00:10:53,79 opportunity to live in a. Sort of 133 00:10:53,80 --> 00:11:00,08 a communal setting right but to be able to also have their own private apartment it 134 00:11:00,09 --> 00:11:05,15 might be small might have very limited cooking facilities but and that's another 135 00:11:05,16 --> 00:11:10,95 important thing it provides for meals right as older people sometimes forget to eat 136 00:11:10,99 --> 00:11:17,64 right I remember my mom who took meals on wheels sometimes 137 00:11:17,88 --> 00:11:24,21 they stashed. Stacked up in her fridge because she forgot to eat and then that was 138 00:11:25,07 --> 00:11:30,42 that wasn't important thing to her to she forgot in the course of it. 139 00:11:31,94 --> 00:11:36,54 Is there anything along the lines of assisted living that's going on well that's 140 00:11:36,55 --> 00:11:41,15 a great question in actually just the other day at the state house I was walking 141 00:11:41,16 --> 00:11:43,43 through the hallway and there were 142 00:11:43,44 --> 00:11:50,20 a number of advocates in actually assisted living. C.E.O.'s at the 143 00:11:50,21 --> 00:11:56,92 State House and they currently are in some discussions presently with Secretary had 144 00:11:56,93 --> 00:12:02,24 seen around those very issues that would be wonderful on those very issues. 145 00:12:03,67 --> 00:12:10,24 You know there is some regulations for assisted living but there's discussion now 146 00:12:10,25 --> 00:12:14,83 in looking at expanding some of those regulations in the hopeful that those are the 147 00:12:14,84 --> 00:12:20,69 kinds of of topics that they have the opportunity to really sort to try to begin to 148 00:12:20,70 --> 00:12:25,16 address you know you mentioned meals on wheels you know and you know I just have to 149 00:12:25,17 --> 00:12:29,90 say that you know here in the city of Worster here in the town of West Boylston who 150 00:12:29,91 --> 00:12:36,33 are so lucky senators on Aging do unbelievable word or so and that we were able to 151 00:12:36,34 --> 00:12:40,52 win the most recent budget back in April added to their budgets 152 00:12:40,53 --> 00:12:41,63 a little bit you know it was 153 00:12:41,64 --> 00:12:46,81 a seven dollars per person feed that we were able to increase eight dollars so 154 00:12:47,31 --> 00:12:50,00 doesn't seem like a lot knowing there is it but that it was 155 00:12:50,01 --> 00:12:55,16 a huge stretch it was governments in those open and I just can't you know thank 156 00:12:55,17 --> 00:13:00,26 those folks that work at both of those locations and we're all in tears that do 157 00:13:00,27 --> 00:13:04,60 a lot of that hurting loads and loads they just make such 158 00:13:04,61 --> 00:13:09,17 a difference and as we say allowing seniors and continue to have that independence 159 00:13:09,46 --> 00:13:12,66 and remain in their own homes well you had a father that lived to 160 00:13:12,67 --> 00:13:19,48 a very ripe age of eighty nine eighty nine and I know you were deeply involved. In 161 00:13:19,49 --> 00:13:21,54 his care probably makes you 162 00:13:21,55 --> 00:13:26,58 a little more sensitive than you might normally be makes any of us who've gone 163 00:13:26,59 --> 00:13:27,83 through it with our parents 164 00:13:28,13 --> 00:13:33,68 a lot more sensitive. What that meant for you what what it what do you bring from 165 00:13:33,69 --> 00:13:37,33 that experience you know I have to tell you you're exactly right you know I was I 166 00:13:37,34 --> 00:13:42,76 so going to start off the show that you know we would dabble with senior issues as 167 00:13:43,03 --> 00:13:47,95 well as all the other issues that sort of flood you as the legislative but that 168 00:13:47,96 --> 00:13:52,47 experience as has been the case I think with many of us how we address things and 169 00:13:52,66 --> 00:13:58,30 and look at your own experience based on what I experience as chair and so you know 170 00:13:58,31 --> 00:14:04,00 so two things my mom had passed away so we had before my dad in we had we had 171 00:14:04,01 --> 00:14:08,15 hospice coming into the house for her at the home and my dad was great about being 172 00:14:08,16 --> 00:14:09,56 with her yeah I had 173 00:14:09,57 --> 00:14:13,78 a paternal uncle that also lived with them at the time and he was fabulous so the 174 00:14:13,79 --> 00:14:17,80 family along with Hospice really sort of played right where they were they were 175 00:14:17,81 --> 00:14:22,46 there and and I think she was much happier in that place than now she would have 176 00:14:22,47 --> 00:14:28,30 been in an institutional setting my dad was still very active in did wind up going 177 00:14:28,31 --> 00:14:33,27 to one of the area nursing homes where the care was I have no complaint and that's 178 00:14:33,28 --> 00:14:37,07 because you're right but there are so high that as 179 00:14:37,08 --> 00:14:43,93 a child absolute to do it that's one of the things that he was most adamant about 180 00:14:44,28 --> 00:14:50,07 was you know after his payment for staying at the facility was taken away that he 181 00:14:50,08 --> 00:14:53,99 wanted to make sure that he had his seventy two dollars and fifty cents for his 182 00:14:54,00 --> 00:14:59,65 personal needs right and I don't think he was alone in that issue I think all of us 183 00:14:59,66 --> 00:15:06,25 seniors want to make sure that are there other funding is taken up. In this safe 184 00:15:06,26 --> 00:15:09,83 in well run for syllabi but they want to make 185 00:15:09,84 --> 00:15:12,75 a phone call if they had the ability maybe to get out for 186 00:15:12,76 --> 00:15:19,57 a little while their own you know. Just deodorant and toothpaste in. You had 187 00:15:19,58 --> 00:15:20,50 really you know if you had 188 00:15:20,51 --> 00:15:25,12 a dentist appointment right that was extremely important to him so that was 189 00:15:25,13 --> 00:15:28,18 something when we did the budget this year you can get back to 190 00:15:28,19 --> 00:15:33,31 a machine today and we've really tried to make sure that we keep that seventy to 191 00:15:33,32 --> 00:15:37,67 fifty but what I want to try to do is always sure the debt language increases for 192 00:15:37,68 --> 00:15:42,19 sure but the make sure that the language doesn't have to be asked for every year oh 193 00:15:42,20 --> 00:15:43,69 that would be one that all comes 194 00:15:43,70 --> 00:15:48,61 a subtle pot of the actual budget itself that would be why film there you know we 195 00:15:48,62 --> 00:15:55,48 often say that it is too bad that decision makers other than ourselves haven't 196 00:15:55,49 --> 00:15:57,70 had the experience of having 197 00:15:57,71 --> 00:16:04,47 a loved one who has gone through maybe an illness or whatever so they 198 00:16:04,51 --> 00:16:10,14 truly understand we're dealing with autism now and you know people who've had the 199 00:16:10,15 --> 00:16:11,97 experience of having a friend or 200 00:16:11,98 --> 00:16:17,65 a family member with autism look at it very differently than someone who's never 201 00:16:17,66 --> 00:16:22,55 been exposed to it before and so you're absolutely right your father's experience 202 00:16:22,56 --> 00:16:26,66 in the nursing home with the seventy two fifty makes makes 203 00:16:26,67 --> 00:16:33,50 a difference it really does obviously the social service agencies the senior 204 00:16:33,51 --> 00:16:37,34 social service agencies were thrilled when they heard that you were going to be 205 00:16:37,35 --> 00:16:41,87 there their house chair I mean you relate to them and you're here you're terrific 206 00:16:41,88 --> 00:16:48,55 with them what was the biggest challenge you faced. Well I think coming in coming 207 00:16:48,56 --> 00:16:54,44 into the new position it happens so quickly and then the very next thing that if 208 00:16:54,45 --> 00:16:58,51 this was me running what is the budget you have to get yourself completely 209 00:16:58,52 --> 00:17:02,84 familiarize with all the line items you know in all the areas that you know the 210 00:17:02,85 --> 00:17:08,53 Committee on Elder Affairs has been charged with sort of managing and then all the 211 00:17:08,54 --> 00:17:15,03 advocates coming in and trying to get your attention in telling you about all of 212 00:17:15,31 --> 00:17:20,83 why their particular little niches is the most important and then trying to sort 213 00:17:20,84 --> 00:17:25,49 all of that out and prioritizing you know what truly is important and what isn't 214 00:17:26,35 --> 00:17:31,56 and if you don't mind I would say that you know even even yesterday we had the it 215 00:17:31,57 --> 00:17:31,66 was 216 00:17:31,67 --> 00:17:36,68 a press conference yesterday and it was really more on yesterday's account more specific 217 00:17:36,94 --> 00:17:38,03 to the M.B.T. 218 00:17:38,04 --> 00:17:39,88 A in Boston however there is 219 00:17:39,89 --> 00:17:46,29 a more broader Syrian CERN for this so it has to do with paratransit in the ride 220 00:17:46,30 --> 00:17:50,73 it's what they call it and boss night back in two thousand and twelve the cost of 221 00:17:50,74 --> 00:17:56,31 those individuals with disabilities all mobility issues and seniors taking the ride 222 00:17:56,69 --> 00:17:58,76 increased one hundred percent so as 223 00:17:58,77 --> 00:18:01,69 a result of the one hundred percent increase in the fair to those that took the 224 00:18:01,70 --> 00:18:03,55 ride right 225 00:18:03,56 --> 00:18:07,25 a ship fell off twenty percent they thought maybe we're going to be nine percent 226 00:18:07,26 --> 00:18:12,30 actually fell off nineteen percent and I want to exaggerate it's huge so I am very 227 00:18:12,31 --> 00:18:18,07 fond So we now are looking at seniors not using the had service seniors becoming 228 00:18:18,08 --> 00:18:22,72 isolated scene is having now if they're going to use the service am I going to not 229 00:18:22,73 --> 00:18:26,21 do my grocery shopping am I not going to buy my medications we can maybe get over 230 00:18:26,22 --> 00:18:29,38 an hour this week and I'm not trapped in my house so it's 231 00:18:29,39 --> 00:18:33,89 a huge problem right there but I think you know we certainly have folks here and in 232 00:18:33,90 --> 00:18:40,57 was that use our paratransit system so in some areas don't have database that 233 00:18:40,58 --> 00:18:44,40 ability so we have to kind of figure out so what do we do in those areas so 234 00:18:44,41 --> 00:18:47,11 transportation I guess is my point. Is 235 00:18:47,12 --> 00:18:53,20 a huge issue right for us seniors whether it's in the BTA share area right over 236 00:18:53,21 --> 00:18:58,97 here in central Massachusetts parts west plants all theses So says that that you 237 00:18:58,98 --> 00:19:01,82 care about that yeah you have transportation underlies 238 00:19:01,83 --> 00:19:06,83 a lot of things that we do root out here in the central part of Massachusetts have 239 00:19:06,84 --> 00:19:12,48 to take that into consideration and every single thing we do we provide or offer if 240 00:19:12,49 --> 00:19:18,54 people can't get there you know. We can't provide we can't who that help deal with 241 00:19:18,55 --> 00:19:25,33 that right and most of our children today that they have jobs husband and wife have 242 00:19:25,34 --> 00:19:32,21 jobs. They're not going to be around like their parents who are like 243 00:19:32,25 --> 00:19:37,72 like our parents who are around to take our grandparents because it doesn't happen 244 00:19:37,73 --> 00:19:43,20 anymore and so we've got to provide for that as and I think you and I see that as 245 00:19:43,21 --> 00:19:45,99 a job that the state needs to provide It's not 246 00:19:46,00 --> 00:19:48,89 a private individuals problem because there are 247 00:19:48,90 --> 00:19:53,40 a lot of private individuals who just can't handle it right I mean I think you and 248 00:19:53,41 --> 00:19:53,97 I come from 249 00:19:53,98 --> 00:19:58,79 a similar place we don't think about what government's role should be in what it 250 00:19:58,80 --> 00:20:04,87 isn't but I think in certain circumstances you know those that. Able to take 251 00:20:04,88 --> 00:20:09,43 advantage of some sort of way of getting to work at home from work into the grocery 252 00:20:09,44 --> 00:20:14,10 store whatever the case may be we have to make sure we have to step into that 253 00:20:14,11 --> 00:20:17,94 opportunity so you know I've sat at 254 00:20:17,95 --> 00:20:24,77 a number of round tables recently. With. Issues around seniors and as I 255 00:20:24,78 --> 00:20:30,93 said earlier it's overwhelming. We have some commissions that are meeting regularly 256 00:20:30,94 --> 00:20:36,08 over the last several months protective services for seniors huge issue but you 257 00:20:36,09 --> 00:20:42,58 know what does that really mean there's all kinds of little. Areas of 258 00:20:42,59 --> 00:20:47,95 protective service exact their services sometimes means protecting against family 259 00:20:47,96 --> 00:20:53,78 members that's correct and it in its financial exploitation which is part of that 260 00:20:53,82 --> 00:20:55,51 right but also it can be more of 261 00:20:55,52 --> 00:20:59,29 a physical thing but the financial exploitation piece has been 262 00:20:59,30 --> 00:21:05,12 a piece that has sort of resonated with me and I was interested to learn that the 263 00:21:05,13 --> 00:21:10,84 banking industry already is doing some work either around you know if they see 264 00:21:10,85 --> 00:21:15,73 someone one of their club customers coming on and in or that amount of time taking 265 00:21:15,74 --> 00:21:20,75 out large sums of money red flags go out early so we're really trying to tie in 266 00:21:20,79 --> 00:21:26,69 those kinds of individuals banking financial services district attorney's offices 267 00:21:26,70 --> 00:21:27,12 all those were 268 00:21:27,13 --> 00:21:33,79 a number of folks that are sitting on this particular. Boyd to 269 00:21:33,80 --> 00:21:38,75 talk about this commission I should say it's interesting because one of my dear 270 00:21:38,76 --> 00:21:40,87 friends years ago was 271 00:21:40,88 --> 00:21:46,65 a woman named Rosalie Wolfe and Rosalie did her Ph D. 272 00:21:46,92 --> 00:21:51,70 Dissertation on the subject she's one of the founders of this area of Elder 273 00:21:51,71 --> 00:21:57,10 exploitation and there wasn't nobody seemed to understand it or know about it 274 00:21:57,11 --> 00:22:01,15 before and she has she brought it to light and it's 275 00:22:01,25 --> 00:22:03,52 a very serious problem yet it's got into 276 00:22:03,53 --> 00:22:06,99 a there's another whole layer on there right now about the about the Internet and 277 00:22:07,00 --> 00:22:10,51 the access that the it the no I want all of our seniors that are at home you know 278 00:22:10,52 --> 00:22:13,89 right I'll be spending some time on the computer is right no you're right 279 00:22:13,90 --> 00:22:18,90 a variety of reasons and there's more than think about why it's an unbelievable 280 00:22:19,36 --> 00:22:21,89 right so. So you put not 281 00:22:21,90 --> 00:22:26,19 a lot of fires is what we're trying right trying to educate folks and make people 282 00:22:26,20 --> 00:22:31,84 aware of the ways that they can be harmed any special legislation that you have in 283 00:22:31,85 --> 00:22:36,11 the works that you think we should be aware of well I think you know with these 284 00:22:36,12 --> 00:22:38,71 commissions will hold me there will be all that come up with 285 00:22:39,09 --> 00:22:44,85 a series of recommendations and probably some bills that will come out of that that 286 00:22:44,86 --> 00:22:51,03 we will hopefully be able to get some real traction on. So we can hope to prevent 287 00:22:51,04 --> 00:22:55,16 those things from happening and I think there is no one who doesn't have an elderly 288 00:22:55,17 --> 00:23:02,16 person as part of their circle of friendships family whatever and so it really 289 00:23:02,17 --> 00:23:07,18 affects everybody one way or the other and as you can imagine you just talked about 290 00:23:07,19 --> 00:23:13,39 sort of the family aspect of the potential for you know. Right senior. 291 00:23:14,43 --> 00:23:18,59 You have to sort of look back to the problems that we faced when we talked about 292 00:23:18,60 --> 00:23:22,58 the epidemic and I'm for sure that hasn't been resolved either but the epidemic of 293 00:23:22,77 --> 00:23:27,89 domestic violence in the victim doesn't want to bring charges because it's 294 00:23:27,90 --> 00:23:32,98 a family member or it's their husband or that jury must hear about. So it's 295 00:23:32,99 --> 00:23:37,58 a big issue but we found that here in the commonwealth there has been an 296 00:23:37,59 --> 00:23:40,24 opportunity to sort of change that culture 297 00:23:40,25 --> 00:23:45,64 a little bit and that the dish the prosecutors can now sort of bring charges even 298 00:23:45,65 --> 00:23:50,22 really victim doesn't want to bring charges in the domestic violence case so we're 299 00:23:50,23 --> 00:23:55,70 trying to work on techniques or our ideas on how we can do that when 300 00:23:55,71 --> 00:24:01,50 a family member has exploited you know senior and that senior doesn't want to bring 301 00:24:01,51 --> 00:24:04,30 the charges against them but we could still as 302 00:24:04,31 --> 00:24:11,10 a commonwealth go forward with that why can you tell our viewers that they 303 00:24:11,11 --> 00:24:17,97 might be aware of that might help them and if they're if they're seniors or if they 304 00:24:18,02 --> 00:24:23,15 have responsibility for a senior any words of advice from either your role as 305 00:24:23,16 --> 00:24:29,35 a social worker or your role as the chairman of the Elder Affairs Committee Yeah I 306 00:24:29,36 --> 00:24:36,03 mean I think it's really important that. No one should hesitate 307 00:24:36,24 --> 00:24:41,69 if they think somebody is being abused or neglected or exploited to tell someone 308 00:24:41,70 --> 00:24:46,51 above that and certainly here in the city it was the you know hold all the services 309 00:24:46,55 --> 00:24:46,74 is 310 00:24:46,75 --> 00:24:51,99 a great place to begin right they have protective services of the partment within the 311 00:24:52,00 --> 00:24:56,80 services so that's an area that I think we should all be aware of and know the 312 00:24:56,84 --> 00:25:01,69 great work that they do certainly my office I'm very fortunate I have to reflect 313 00:25:01,70 --> 00:25:07,94 staff in the folks in call six one seven seven two to twenty eight and 314 00:25:08,31 --> 00:25:14,61 and we're happy to deal with any kind of senior issue that folks may be struggling 315 00:25:14,62 --> 00:25:20,33 with have questions with we have the wherewithal within the office to certainly 316 00:25:20,89 --> 00:25:26,66 ploy you to another agency of that's necessary or or help gather the information 317 00:25:26,67 --> 00:25:30,90 that you're looking for we can respond back to you know wash and that's that's 318 00:25:30,94 --> 00:25:35,93 that's wonderful advice. And hopefully people and you've given them your telephone 319 00:25:35,94 --> 00:25:42,22 number doesn't give it to them again it's six one seven seven two to twenty eight 320 00:25:42,23 --> 00:25:47,31 ten and that is the committee on Elder Affairs and if you're not available your 321 00:25:47,32 --> 00:25:51,77 staff is available and they'd be happy to help them in their you know listen the 322 00:25:51,78 --> 00:25:56,72 staff makes us all look great in their wonderful staff they do great work the 323 00:25:56,73 --> 00:26:01,76 researcher in our committee has been on on the committee for I think around three 324 00:26:01,77 --> 00:26:08,66 years now and she is just wealth of information and knows the necessary agencies 325 00:26:08,67 --> 00:26:13,36 that we can reach out to and really hope people had to questions we understand that 326 00:26:13,37 --> 00:26:17,64 there are lots of questions put the health care issue to the right with the change 327 00:26:17,65 --> 00:26:23,18 in the Affordable Care Act. There will be there will be questions and we're happy 328 00:26:23,19 --> 00:26:29,76 to be able to. Answer those questions for you and if they do you also have office 329 00:26:29,77 --> 00:26:34,54 hours so that they can when they read about your office hours they can come and 330 00:26:34,55 --> 00:26:39,04 visit you there well I appreciate you bringing that out Senator Yeah once 331 00:26:39,05 --> 00:26:44,49 a month I have office I was both in was there and it was Boylston and we're still 332 00:26:44,50 --> 00:26:49,13 we meet at the Perkins library in Greenville and then in West Coast and we meet at 333 00:26:49,14 --> 00:26:50,45 the you know what spoils of the beam in 334 00:26:50,46 --> 00:26:55,92 a library and usually there's an announcement in the thing injury or the over the 335 00:26:55,93 --> 00:27:00,67 banner and we're spoiled saying what day of the month that we're present at those 336 00:27:01,33 --> 00:27:08,10 visiting but if they're just not sure if they're just not sure. Representative 337 00:27:08,11 --> 00:27:13,72 O'Day is an easy person to talk to and he's the kind of person that has been there 338 00:27:13,73 --> 00:27:19,69 done that and he's there to help you I mean he's his heart is enormous so we are 339 00:27:19,70 --> 00:27:24,24 delighted that you joined us today we're delighted to chair that committee because 340 00:27:24,42 --> 00:27:30,07 you do wonderful things there and we thank you for coming and we thank you for 341 00:27:30,08 --> 00:27:35,30 joining us today as well this is Senator Harriet Chandler saying good bye for knell 342 00:27:35,31 --> 00:27:40,49 for Beacon Hill chat we'll see you again next week same time same place.